The Southern Conference Sports Media Association selected its 2013 men’s basketball all-conference teams and postseason awards today (March 5). 

In balloting that mirrored the coaches’ selections, Davidson forward Jake Cohen was named the Malcolm U. Pitt Player of the Year. It is the second consecutive season Cohen has earned the award from the league’s media. 
Elon head coach Matt Matheny was named the league’s Anton Foy Coach of the Year, while Samford’s Tim Williams was named the Freshman of the Year. Cohen becomes just the 14th player in league history to earn the Malcolm U. Pitt Player of the Year award from the media in back-to-back seasons.
 The last player to earn the award consecutive years was Davidson’s Stephen Curry (2008-09). Cohen is sixth in the league with 14.9 points per game and is 15th in rebounding (5.7 rpg).   Matheny guided the Phoenix to 20-10 record during the regular season, including a 13-5 mark in conference play. Elon won the North Division for the first time since 2006 and has increased its win total in each of Matheny’s four seasons at the helm. 
The 13 conference wins in 2013 are the most for Elon since joining the league in 2004. The league’s media association also selected three all-conference teams.  Cohen earned first-team honors for the second consecutive season, as did teammate De’Mon Brooks.  They were joined on the first team by Elon’s Lucas Troutman, UNCG’s Trevis Simpson and Western Carolina’s Trey Sumler. Appalachian State’s Nathan Healy, The Citadel’s Mike Groselle, College of Charleston’s Andrew Lawrence, Samford’s Raijon Kelly and Wofford’s Karl Cochran all garnered second-team honors.
The all-conference third team is comprised of Davidson’s Nik Cochran, Elon’s Jack Isenbarger, Georgia Southern’s Eric Ferguson, Samford’s Tim Williams and Chattanooga’s Z. Mason. The media matched the coaches in selecting the all-freshmen team.  The Citadel’s Matt Van Scyoc, Samford’s Clide Geffrard Jr., Williams, Chattanooga’s Gee McGhee and Wofford’s Spencer Collins made up both all-freshman squads.
The 2013 Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament begins Friday, March 8, at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville, N.C. The league’s championship game will tip off Monday, March 11, at 7:00 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN2.

2013 Men’s SoCon Sports Media Association Awards
All-Conference First Team
De’Mon Brooks, Davidson
Jake Cohen, Davidson
Lucas Troutman, Elon
Trevis Simpson, UNCG
Trey Sumler, Western Carolina

All-Conference Second Team
Nathan Healy, Appalachian State
Mike Groselle, The Citadel
Andrew Lawrence, College of Charleston
Raijon Kelly, Samford
Karl Cochran, Wofford

All-Conference Third Team
Nik Cochran, Davidson
Jack Isenbarger, Elon
Eric Ferguson, Georgia Southern
Tim Williams, Samford
Z. Mason, Chattanooga

All-Freshman Team
Matt Van Scyoc, The Citadel
Clide Geffrard Jr., Samford
Tim Williams, Samford
Gee McGhee, Chattanooga
Spencer Collins, Wofford

Malcolm U. Pitt Player of the Year
Jake Cohen, Sr., F, Davidson

Freshman of the Year
Tim Williams, F, Samford

Anton Foy Coach of the Year
Matt Matheny, Elon